Flat strap structure

ABSTRACT

A flat strap structure including at least one metal reinforcing wire and a strap made of plastic material by molding. The metal reinforcing wire is integrally embedded in the plastic strap. The metal reinforcing wire is formed of flexible metal wire or steel cable or is composed of electrically conductive wires enclosed by a layer of cable. The metal reinforcing wire serves to enhance the shear strength and tension strength of the flat strap to ensure safety in use of the flat strap. In addition, the electrically conductive wires can conduct current to transmit electric signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a flat strap with a reinforcingstructure. Several metal reinforcing wires are longitudinally integrallyembedded in a plastic strap of the flat strap. The metal reinforcingwires serve to enhance the shear strength and tension strength of theflat strap to enhance durability thereof and ensure safety in use of theflat strap. In addition, electrically conductive wires can be enclosedin the metal reinforcing wires to conduct current.

There are various binding straps applicable to various fields. Forexample, a common binding strap is used to tie cargoes for facilitatingtransfer thereof. A ski strap is used to bind the ski on a user's foot.Also, a binding strap is often used to tie a large-size package or atrunk to secure the transfer thereof and avoid unexpected opening of thepackage or trunk. The conventional binding strap is integrally made ofplastic material or formed of slender threads by weaving. Such strap hassufficient tension strength, while having insufficient shear strength.Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the tension strength or shearstrength of the binding strap to ensure safety in use of the bindingstrap.

Moreover, the fiber-made or plastic-made binding strap can simplyprovide binding or tying effect, while lacking electric signaltransmission function. This limits the application of the strap product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide animproved flat strap structure including at least one metal reinforcingwire and a strap made of plastic material by molding. The metalreinforcing wire is integrally embedded in the plastic strap. The metalreinforcing wire is formed of flexible steel strings with excellentstrength so that the shear strength and tension strength of the flatstrap are enhanced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the aboveflat strap structure in which the metal reinforcing wire can be composedof multiple electrically conductive wires enclosed by a layer of cable.Therefore, the flat strap can also conduct current and transmit electricsignal to widen the application field of the flat strap.

The present invention can be best understood through the followingdescription and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially sectional view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing that the metal reinforcing wire ofthe present invention is composed of electrically conductive wiresenclosed by a cable;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing that the flat strap of the presentinvention is used as a strap lock for a suitcase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 5. The flat strap structure of the presentinvention is composed of at least one metal reinforcing wire 3 and astrap 2 made of plastic material by molding. The metal reinforcing wire3 is integrally longitudinally embedded in the plastic strap 2. Themetal reinforcing wire 3 is formed of flexible metal wire or steel cable31 or is composed of electrically conductive wires 33 enclosed by atleast one layer of cable 32. The metal reinforcing wire 3 serves toenhance the tension strength or shear strength of the flat strap 1. Inthe case that the electrically conductive wires 33 enclosed by the cable32 is embedded in the plastic strap 2, not only the flat strap 1 isreinforced, but also the flat strap 1 can conduct current to transmitelectric signal. For example, an interruption-detective alarm device 5can be mounted at two ends of the strap 1 as shown in FIG. 5. In thecase that the strap 1 is cut off and an interruption takes place, thealarm device 5 is triggered to emit a warning and burglarproof signal oralarm. Therefore, the strap 1 of the present invention can achieve bothprotective and warning effects.

In the above structure, the steel cable 31 or the electricallyconductive wires 33 enclosed by the cable 32 is embedded in the plasticstrap 2. Therefore, the tension strength or shear strength of the flatstrap 1 is enhanced relative to the conventional fiber or plastic strap.Especially, the flat strap 1 is used to tie a valuable article to securethe transfer thereof.

In addition, in order to ensure that the flat strap 1 can be trulywound/unwound without deflection, two lateral edges of at least one faceof the flat strap 1 are formed with guide ribs 21 extending along thelateral edges of the flat strap 1. The guide ribs 21 serve to guide theflat strap 1 when wound/unwound. Moreover, at least one face of theplastic strap 2 is formed with a row of recesses 22 continuouslyarranged in the extending direction of the flat strap 1. By means of therecesses 22, the flat strap 1 can be engaged with and located by amachine or the length of the flat strap 1 can be counted.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention,not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the aboveembodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, two lateral sides of theflat strap 1 can be formed with arched faces 11, 12 and the metalreinforcing wires 3 embedded in the plastic strap 2 can be flattened.

1. A flat strap structure comprising at least one metal reinforcing wireand a strap made of plastic material by molding, the metal reinforcingwire being integrally longitudinally embedded in the plastic strap. 2.The flat strap structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metalreinforcing wire is formed of a cable.
 3. The flat strap structure asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the metal reinforcing wire is composed ofelectrically conductive wires enclosed by at least one layer of cable.4. The flat strap structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metalreinforcing wire has a flattened shape as the cross-sectional shape ofthe flat strap.
 5. The flat strap structure as claimed in claim 2,wherein the metal reinforcing wire has a flattened shape as thecross-sectional shape of the flat strap.
 6. The flat strap structure asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the metal reinforcing wire has a flattenedshape as the cross-sectional shape of the flat strap.
 7. The flat strapstructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one guide rib isformed on at least one face of the flat strap, the guide rib extendingin a direction in which the flat strap extends.
 8. The flat strapstructure as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one guide rib isformed on at least one face of the flat strap, the guide rib extendingin a direction in which the flat strap extends.
 9. The flat strapstructure as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one guide rib isformed on at least one face of the flat strap, the guide rib extendingin a direction in which the flat strap extends.
 10. The flat strapstructure as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one guide rib isformed on at least one face of the flat strap, the guide rib extendingin a direction in which the flat strap extends.
 11. The flat strapstructure as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one guide rib isformed on at least one face of the flat strap, the guide rib extendingin a direction in which the flat strap extends.
 12. The flat strapstructure as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one guide rib isformed on at least one face of the flat strap, the guide rib extendingin a direction in which the flat strap extends.
 13. The flat strapstructure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one face of the flatstrap is formed with a row of recesses continuously arranged in adirection in which the flat strap extends.
 14. The flat strap structureas claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one face of the flat strap isformed with a row of recesses continuously arranged in a direction inwhich the flat strap extends.
 15. The flat strap structure as claimed inclaim 3, wherein at least one face of the flat strap is formed with arow of recesses continuously arranged in a direction in which the flatstrap extends.
 16. The flat strap structure as claimed in claim 4,wherein at least one face of the flat strap is formed with a row ofrecesses continuously arranged in a direction in which the flat strapextends.
 17. The flat strap structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein atleast one face of the flat strap is formed with a row of recessescontinuously arranged in a direction in which the flat strap extends.18. The flat strap structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least oneface of the flat strap is formed with a row of recesses continuouslyarranged in a direction in which the flat strap extends.